Towards a new generation of solid total-energy detectors for neutron-capture time-of-flight experiments with intense neutron beams

Challenging neutron-capture cross-section measurements of small cross sections and samples with a very limited number of atoms require high-flux time-of-flight facilities. In turn, such facilities need innovative detection setups that are fast, have low sensitivity to neutrons, can quickly recover f...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Balibrea Correa, J., Babiano Suárez, V., Lerendegui Marco, Jorge, Domingo Pardo, César, Ladarescu, I., Tarifeño Saldivia, A., Cortés Giraldo, Miguel Antonio, Fernández Martínez, Begoña, Guerrero Sánchez, Carlos, Pérez Maroto, Pablo, Quesada Molina, José Manuel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Sevilla (US)
Repositorio:idUS. Depósito de Investigación de la Universidad de Sevilla
OAI Identifier:oai:idus.us.es:11441/172616
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/11441/172616
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nima.2024.170110
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Neutron capture
-ray detectors
High sensitivity
Hybrid setup
Stilbene-d12
Descripción
Sumario:Challenging neutron-capture cross-section measurements of small cross sections and samples with a very limited number of atoms require high-flux time-of-flight facilities. In turn, such facilities need innovative detection setups that are fast, have low sensitivity to neutrons, can quickly recover from the so-called - flash, and offer the highest possible detection sensitivity. In this paper, we present several steps towards such advanced systems. Specifically, we describe the performance of a high-sensitivity experimental setup at CERN n_TOF EAR2. It consists of nine sTED detector modules in a compact cylindrical configuration, two conventional used large-volume C6D6 detectors, and one LaCl3 (Ce) detector. The performance of these detection systems is compared using 93Nb(, ) data. We also developed a detailed Geant4 Monte Carlo model of the experimental EAR2 setup, which allows for a better understanding of the detector features, including their efficiency determination. This Monte Carlo model has been used for further optimization, thus leading to a new conceptual design of a detector array, STAR, based on a deuterated-stilbene crystal array. Finally, the suitability of deuterated-stilbene crystals for the future STAR array is investigated experimentally utilizing a small stilbene-d12 prototype. The results suggest a similar or superior performance of STAR with respect to other setups based on liquid-scintillators, and allow for additional features such as neutron-gamma discrimination and a higher level of customization capability.